What an interesting post. Made for an interesting read.
Firstly yes, we are in a fight to protect something that provides health benefits over smoking and that's incredibly important for millions of people all over the world. Unfortunately vaping's image has been tarnished by idiots adding oil to vaping liquid regardless of the other contents.
I'm fortunate that I'm in the UK where the governing bodies seem to be taking a sensible approach compared to the rest of the world. I'm sure we all have our own theories about why governments are so against vaping, a nicotine delivery system, which at the very worst, is a lot better for people than smoking.
That's not why I'm posting though (and I don't post often). I was floored by the prejudice and pious judgement by the OP. Yes there are people in the world who use cannabis, I agree that there are also stoners out there who are wasters and don't contribute much to society. That said there are also (I would suggest a majority) who use the drug recreationally and minimally and who am I to even have an opinion on that? It's got nothing to do with me.
I would hate to be the kind of person who groups together all the 'bad' people in the world just because it's not something I agree with. "I don't agree with people who use stimulants, like caffeine, so they must be the same as murderers".
It shows a massive level of intolerance and indeed lack of empathy.
The human body has an endocannabinoid system, a series of receptors specifically designed for those compounds. It's literally in our DNA. Humans have had a very long relationship with marijuana, dating back hundreds of generations.
Now bear in mind that our 'values' are based on many things like our upbringing, the values instilled into us by our family and people we respect, be that teachers, religious leaders etc. That's the same for everyone.
Also bear in mind that there was a concerted effort by the US government to vilify and demonise marijuana which has stained people's opinions of the drug. Essentially it was a propaganda campaign to destroy the hemp industry.
On top of that it's important to recognise that the balance of 'weed' has changed a lot over the years. Previously THC and CBD were relatively balanced (among the other compounds like CBG etc) and they're all needed. Recently growers have been pushing the THC content higher and higher at the expense of CBD which is needed to balance things out. This introduces a danger for psychosis and other mental health issues.
The point is it's an incredibly complicated, multifaceted issue with a long history. It's a drug that has been part of our evolution, a drug that has been targeted and slandered by governments, a drug that has great potential to heal and benefit humanity, a drug that continues to change and evolve as does our understanding of it.
Also important to note is there are a myriad of users spanning the full spectrum, like alcohol, from those who like a drink on their birthday to those who drink two bottles of whiskey a day and destroy their lives and others.
It's not the drug that's the problem, it's human nature and a failure to recognise that suggests a very simplistic and basic understanding of the world around us.
Would I rather chat to an enlightened stoner or someone who piously judges the world without consideration?
